While today's cell phone microphones have only one membrane to detect sound, the first-generation MEMS sound chip will have more than five, reported Scientific American. MEMS-based speakers will provide increased sound sensitivity, too. Each membrane's output can be integrated into already established methods of signal-processing electronics. Thus, the chips can be made off-site using existing techniques, the standard industry process for semiconductor manufacturing, based on the complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology.